THE AIRFORCE - SQUADRONS

11 Squadron

"Ne Desit Virtus" (Let Courage not Fail)

Formed as a fighter-bomber unit in April 1939 at Durban with Wapitis, by December that year it had already been disbanded. By renumbering 1 (Bomber/Fighter) Squadron to 11 (Bomber) Squadron on 11 December 1939, the squadron was activated once again and by May 1940 was equipped with the Hartbees, moving to Nairobi. During August they re-equipped with the Fairey Battle, with the majority of operations occuring over Italian East Africa. Despite an impressive record, the squadron was renumbered 15 Squadron in May 1941. Reformed in June 1944 in the Middle East with Spitfire Mk Vs, the squadron moved to Italy in September where they converted to the Kittyhawk Mk IV. With the collapse of the Axis, the squadron was disbanded in mid 1945.

In January 1974, the squadron was reformed with Cessna 185s at Potchefstroom. The squadron was disbanded in early 1991.